Sosa hopeful of reconnecting with Cubs

(MCT) — If the Cubs want to bridge the gulf between them and their career home-run leader, as Tom Ricketts hinted at the Cubs Convention over the weekend, Sammy Sosa says all they have to do is call.

"I saw that the owner said he wanted to reach me, speak to me,'' Sosa said. "I don't have any problem with that. They know where I am. If they want to find me, they have to call me. I'm always available.''

Sosa hasn't appeared at Wrigley Field since he left the clubhouse during the last game of the 2004 season -- his popularity having taken a dive along with his offensive totals in his final seasons, which included a suspension in '03 for using a corked bat -- but he believes the team should honor him as an all-time great.

Sosa, who is eighth all time with 609 home runs, hit .284 with 545 home runs and 1,414 RBIs in 1,811 games in his 13 seasons with the Cubs.

During a cyber chat on the website Ustream.com on Wednesday, Sosa reiterated his belief that his No. 21 should be retired and that he and Mark McGwire should be welcomed into the Hall of Fame.

"That is something I'm looking forward to, that I want to happen,'' Sosa said about having his number retired by the Cubs. "I'm kind of surprised it hasn't happened before. … I represented that number for (13) years. That number should have been retired a long time ago.''

Sosa, who has been linked to a positive steroid test in 2003, received only 12.5 percent in Hall of Fame voting announced this month. He finished 17th among players on the ballot. He appears motivated to repair his damaged image, with the 10-minute online chat a part of that effort.

During the chat, he took questions from a friendly interviewer and some followers. He dropped no bombshells but did leave himself open to one day running for president in the Dominican Republic.

"You never know,'' Sosa said in reply to a question. "If that moment comes in, I will be ready. I don't say it will happen tomorrow or the next day. At this moment I'm happy with what I'm doing, taking care of my family. I feel comfortable. I feel good doing that.''

Among the questions Sosa did not field was one from someone identified as plamorte. He asked Sosa, "Who broke your boom box?''